Assemblyman Steve Hawley has introduced legislation to restore funding to programs that assist people with developmental disabilities.

$420 million was put aside in the upcoming state budget for the Empire State Film Tax Credit to lure Hollywood production to the state; but this meant that $90 million was cut to the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. Hawley says it's unacceptable.

“It makes no sense whatsoever," he said. "We need to cut the Hollywood funding by $90 million and restore that for the developmentally disabled.”

Hawley says helping those who can’t help themselves has become a universal issue in the state.

“Republicans and Democrats alike, senators and assemblymen alike, Upstate and Downstate – which is unusual – all are in agreement and requested that the $90 million be put back into the budget for the developmentally disabled," he said. "The governor would not agree to that.”

The bill still needs a state senate sponsor. Hawley has long supported the Genesee ARC which stands to lose significant funding, even though the cuts were reduced from an original total of $120 million.